Activating a mobile terminal from mobile network side

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a method of activating a mobile terminal from mobile network side and a mobile application gateway system. The method comprises: receiving, by a mobile application gateway, a request for activating the mobile terminal, the request including an unique identification number of the mobile terminal; querying, by the mobile application gateway, a HLR for address of a SGSN where the mobile terminal is located; returning, by the HLR, the queried address of SGSN to the mobile application gateway; sending, by the mobile application gateway, the request for activating the mobile terminal to the SGSN; issuing, by the SGSN, a request to the mobile terminal, requiring the mobile terminal to issue a mobile terminal initiated PDP context activation request. The method enables an instant messaging user at a mobile terminal to automatically open an IP connection if there is any message to be received after the IP connection is closed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a divisional of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/929,402, filed Jun. 27, 2013, entitled “ACTIVATING A MOBILE TERMINALFROM MOBILE NETWORK SIDE”, which is herein incorporated by reference.This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/292,402.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to instant message service in a mobilenetwork, and more specifically, to a method of activating a mobileterminal from mobile network side and a mobile gateway system.

BACKGROUND

Nowadays, a variety of so-called “always online” application programssuch as instant message (IM), etc., have been widely used by mobileusers to acquire information at anytime and anywhere, so as to keepreal-time communication with other mobile users. To remain online allthe time, a mobile device has to keep constant IP connectivity viawireless data service, which is expensive and power-consuming fromuser's perspective, and waste of bandwidth, IP addresses and otherresources from wireless operator's perspective. To save money, power andresources, an IM client can offline itself automatically after the useris inactive for a certain period of time, and close the IP connectivity,but the user will be unreachable and lose the benefit of real-timecommunication brought by instant messaging.

Thus, a solution is needed that enables a user of instant message of amobile terminal to automatically open an IP connection when there is aninstant message to be received after the IP connection is closed.

SUMMARY

In order to solve problems existing in the art, by modifying operationat mobile network side, user of instant message of a mobile terminal isenabled to automatically open IP connection when there is an instantmessage to be received after the IP connection is closed.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided amethod of activating a mobile terminal from mobile network side,comprising:

receiving, by a mobile application gateway, a request for activating themobile terminal, the mobile terminal having no IP connection, therequest includes an unique identification number of the mobile terminal;

querying, by the mobile application gateway, a Home Location Register(HLR) for address of a Servicing GPRS Supporting Node (SGSN) where themobile terminal is located by utilizing the unique identification numberof the mobile terminal;

returning, by the HLR, the queried address of SGSN to the mobileapplication gateway;

sending, by the mobile application gateway, the request for activatingthe mobile terminal to the SGSN; and

issuing, by the SGSN, a request to the mobile terminal, requiring themobile terminal to issue a request for activating a Packet Data Protocol(PDP) context to the SGSN.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda mobile application gateway system, comprising:

a request receiving module configured to receive a request foractivating a mobile terminal, the request includes an uniqueidentification number of the mobile terminal;

a query sending module configured to query a Home Location Register(HLR) for an address of a Servicing GPRS Supporting Node (SGSN) wherethe mobile terminal is located by utilizing the unique identificationnumber of the mobile terminal;

a query receiving module configured to receive address of the ServicingGPRS Supporting Node (SGSN) queried by the HLR; and

an activation request sending module configured to send the request foractivating the mobile terminal to the SGSN.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method of using an instant message server, comprising:

storing an unique identification number of a mobile terminal in responseto login of an instant message client running on the mobile terminal;

modifying status of the instant message client as “saving mode” inresponse to receiving a request for transferring status of the instantmessage client into “saving mode”; and

sending a request for activating the mobile terminal to a mobileapplication gateway in response to receiving an instant message sent tothe instant message client whose status is “saving mode”, the requestincludes the unique identification number of the mobile terminal.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an instant message server, comprising:

a logging module configured to store an unique identification number ofa mobile terminal in response to receiving login of an instant messageclient running on the mobile terminal;

a status recording module configured to modify status of the instantmessage client as “saving mode” in response to receiving a request fortransferring status of the instant message client into “saving mode”;and

an activation request sending module configured to send a request foractivating the mobile terminal to a mobile application gateway inresponse to receiving an instant message sent to the instant messageclient whose status is “saving mode”, the request includes the uniqueidentification number of the mobile terminal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Through the more detailed description of some embodiments of the presentdisclosure in the accompanying drawings, the above and other featuresand advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent,wherein the same reference generally refers to the same components inthe embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 shows a diagram of an exemplary computer system 100 which isapplicable to implement the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram of mobile terminal initiated PDP contextactivation;

FIG. 3 shows a diagram of current network side initiated PDP contextactivation procedure;

FIG. 4 shows a diagram of a flow at instant message server side of amobile terminal version instant message application;

FIG. 5 shows a flow diagram of an improved network side initiated PDPcontext activation procedure according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a workflow diagram corresponding to the mobile terminal;

FIG. 7 shows a structural block diagram of the mobile applicationgateway system; and

FIG. 8 shows a structural block diagram of the instant message server.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Some embodiments will be described in more detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which the embodiments of the presentdisclosure have been illustrated. However, the present disclosure can beimplemented in various manners, and thus should not be construed to belimited to the embodiments disclosed herein. On the contrary, thoseembodiments are provided for the thorough and complete understanding ofthe present disclosure, and completely conveying the scope of thepresent disclosure to those skilled in the art.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary computer system 100 which is applicable toimplement the embodiments of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1,the computer system 100 may include: CPU (Central Process Unit) 101, RAM(Random Access Memory) 102, ROM (Read Only Memory) 103, System Bus 104,Hard Drive Controller 105, Keyboard Controller 106, Serial InterfaceController 107, Parallel Interface Controller 108, Display Controller109, Hard Drive 110, Keyboard 111, Serial Peripheral Equipment 112,Parallel Peripheral Equipment 113, and Display 114. Among above devices,CPU 101, RAM 102, ROM 103, Hard Drive Controller 105, KeyboardController 106, Serial Interface Controller 107, Parallel InterfaceController 108 and Display Controller 109 are coupled to the System Bus104. Hard Drive 110 is coupled to Hard Drive Controller 105. Keyboard111 is coupled to Keyboard Controller 106. Serial Peripheral Equipment112 is coupled to Serial Interface Controller 107. Parallel PeripheralEquipment 113 is coupled to Parallel Interface Controller 108. And,Display 114 is coupled to Display Controller 109. It should beunderstood that the structure as shown in FIG. 1 is only for theexemplary purpose rather than any limitation to the present invention.In some cases, some devices may be added to or removed from the computersystem 100 based on specific situations.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentinvention may be embodied as a system, method or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.”Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of acomputer program product embodied in one or more computer readablemedium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent invention may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. The program code may execute entirely on theuser's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

Generally, various so-called “always online” application programsrunning on a mobile terminal each keeps a TCP/IP connection with itsserver, they frequently interact with the servers and consume asignificant amount of bandwidth and power.

To solve this problem, current intelligent pushing platforms of variouspopular mobile terminal operating systems have proposed to uniformlymaintain one IP connection at the mobile terminal, so as to becollectively used by the mobile terminal in accessing all theapplication programs. A mobile terminal manufacturer or operating systemmanufacturer establishes a dedicated server responsible for completingpushing tasks, and a third party application server just needs to send apushing request to a pushing server. At mobile terminal side, the mobileterminal constantly communicates with the pushing server by keeping afixed IP address therewith and monitors an agreed port. After a servermessage is pushed to the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal assigns itto a corresponding application program for processing. When the pushedinformation arrives, the terminal will prompt the user to open theapplication program even if the corresponding application program is inclosed state, and the information will be received after the applicationprogram is opened. Its flow will be described below by taking a mobileterminal accessing an instant message application program for example:

-   -   1. When a user logs in a push version instant message        application program on a mobile terminal, the instant message        application program client will send a device token of that        mobile terminal and a user's instant message ID to an instant        message server.    -   2. When there is a new message, the push version instant message        server examines target instant message user ID in that message        and queries for device token of the corresponding target        terminal, then sends the device token together with the message        to a pushing server established by the manufacturer of the        mobile terminal.    -   3. After the pushing server established by the manufacturer of        the mobile terminal receives the new message, it finds current        IP address of the mobile terminal based on the device token. If        the mobile terminal has no IP connection, or even it is not        powered on at all, then the pushing server stores the new        message, and pushes the message when the mobile terminal is        online; if the mobile terminal is online, then the message is        pushed immediately.

In the above steps, a mobile network provides an IP connection betweenthe mobile terminal and the pushing server, the mobile terminal needs tokeep that IP connection all the time in order to realize real-timemessage pushing, which not only consumes power of the mobile terminal,but also occupies IP address of the mobile network, thereby causingwaste in resources.

Another solution is to release IP connection when a mobile terminal isinactive to save network resource. When a mobile network receives aninstant message sent to an offline user, the mobile network sends it tothe user by using a short message; the user may open an IP connectionafter he/she sees the short message, log into the instant messageserver, and then may start instant message communication. Suchshort-message-notification solution needs user to manually click andopen an IP connection, and length of content bearable by a short messageis limited. A solution in which an IP connection is opened automaticallyafter a short message is received needs the mobile terminal to monitorall incoming short messages, and a message is regarded as a notificationshort message if content or originating number thereof is special, suchthat an IP connection is automatically opened. This behavior is notstandard and is very inconvenient in case there is a need to modifyoriginating number; furthermore, special consideration needs to be takenin security configuration.

It is contemplated in the present invention that, if a mobile terminalhas no instant message communication for a long period of time and alsothere is no other network application program that is currently running,GPRS service of that mobile terminal may be closed and IP networkconnection may be disconnected; hereafter, when the instant messageserver receives a message for that instant message client, it willnotify the mobile network to wake up that mobile terminal through aninterface provided by the mobile network, so as to make that mobileterminal automatically re-establish network connection and automaticallylog into the instant message server, thus obtaining the sent message andperforming further instant message communication. As compared to theshort-message-notification solution in prior art, the present inventionis to make modification at network side. The mobile terminal simplyrealizes an inverse activation flow according to standard. This is mucheasier than deploying an application program on all the mobileterminals, and the invention is so-called “installed once, runseverywhere”.

The mobile network mentioned above may be a GPRS network or a 3Gnetwork. Since a GPRS network and a 3G network may share a same packetdomain core network, the present invention only involves operation onpacket domain core network, thus the two are collectively referred to aspacket domain core network, and the invention does not distinguishbetween access technologies.

General Packet Radio Servicing (GPRS) is a packet data carrier service.It provides with a mobile terminal capability of accessing an externalpacket network (such as Internet) through a mobile network. It isdesigned to be wireless access technology independent, and a commonpacket domain core network may provide GPRS service for both 2.5G(GERAN) and 3G (UTRAN) wireless access network. A packet domain corenetwork comprises functional entities such as Serving GPRS SupportingNode (SGSN) and Gateway GPRS Supporting Node (GGSN) etc.

First, basic concepts in wireless network technical field need to belearned in realizing the invention will be introduced below.

Open Service Access (OSA): OSA defines an architecture that enablesoperator and third party application provider to make use offunctionality offered by a mobile network through an open standardizedinterface; i.e., the OSA APIs and Parlay X web Services. Networkfunctionality offered to applications is defined in terms of a set ofService Capability Features (SCFs), these SCFs provide an interface fornetwork capabilities, which is accessible to applications through theOSA interface for various service development. OSA is defined in 3GPP TS23.198. In a mobile network, these interfaces are typically packaged bya mobile application gateway (also referred to as OSA applicationgateway), to provide Web Service or API calling interface for anexternal application program.

Home Location Register (HLR): HLR is the master database of a user. Itis responsible for storing subscription data of its managed user andlocation information of mobile user, for example, user identity, number,address information, user profile, user location information atinter-system level, etc., such that call for a mobile terminal can beestablished. The HLR integrates Home Location Register andAuthentication Central together and provides functions such as locationchange roaming management, authentication, calling, etc.; HLR alsosupports rich supplementary services such as call forwarding, callbarring, calling number displaying and limiting, short message and soon. The HLR provides an interface which can be used to query for currentSGSN address of a certain mobile user. After receiving a query, the HLRwill return address of the SGSN where that mobile terminal is located.

Serving GPRS Supporting Node (SGSN): it forwards messages issued orreceived by a mobile terminal within a geographical range for which theSGSN is responsible. SGSN's task comprises packet routing andtransporting, mobility management, logical link management, identityauthentication and billing function. A location register module of SGSNstores location information and user profile of all GPRS usersregistered within current SGSN, such as IMSI number of a mobile terminal(International Mobile Subscriber Identification Number, which is a markto distinguish between mobile users and is stored in SIM card, can beused to distinguish valid information of a mobile user), address used ina data network etc. The SGSN provides an interface which can be used byHLR or OSA application gateway to request a mobile terminal to initiatePDP context activation and re-establish an IP connection. In response tothat request, the SGSN will start that process.

Gateway GPRS Supporting Node (GGSN): GGSN is a main component of theGPRS network, which is actually a gateway or a router. The GGSN isresponsible for the interworking between the GPRS network and externalpacket switched networks. From an external packet switched network'spoint of view, the GGSN is a router to a sub-network, because the GGSN‘hides’ the GPRS infrastructure from the external packet switchednetwork. On the other hand, the GGSN is responsible for routing packetsoriginated from a mobile terminal to the right network. The GGSN enablesuser of a mobile terminal to keep network connection during roaming.

The packet data protocol (PDP) context: the PDP context is a datastructure used in SGSN and GGSN, in which session information of mobileuser's current active session is stored. When a mobile user wants to useGPRS, he/she must first attach to the mobile network and activate a PDPcontext. During PDP activation, a PDP context will be allocated for userin the SGSN and GGSN currently serving that user. PDP context activationprocedure is a process in which a mobile terminal acquires an IP addressand establishes an IP connection.

In the present invention, the unique identification number of a mobileterminal is Mobile Subscriber ISDN number (MSISDN number, which is“mobile phone number” as commonly known) or International MobileSubscriber Identification number (IMSI number) of that mobile terminal.

PDP context activation procedure in current GPRS wireless data serviceincludes mobile terminal initiated PDP context activation and networkside initiated PDP context activation. FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram ofmobile terminal initiated PDP context activation. According to FIG. 2,

in step 201, receiving, by a SGSN 222, a request for activating a PDPcontext issued by a mobile terminal 220;

in step 202, parsing out, by the SGSN, an address of a Gateway GPRSSupporting Node (GGSN) 224 of the mobile terminal based on informationprovided by the mobile terminal in the request for activating the PDPcontext, and issuing a request for creating mobile terminal PDP contextto the GGSN;

in step 203, allocating, by the GGSN, a dynamic IP address for themobile terminal and returning a response for creating the PDP context tothe SGSN;

in step 204, receiving, by the SGSN, the response of the GGSN forcreating the PDP context and sending to the mobile terminal anacceptance message of activating the PDP context.

Wherein, the acceptance message of activating the PDP context includes adynamic IP address allocated for the mobile terminal. At this moment, aroute between the mobile terminal and the GGSN has been established,that is, an IP connection has been established, and packet data transfermay be performed. During the above mobile terminal initiated PDP contextactivation procedure, the GGSN will allocate a dynamic IP address to themobile terminal by default, except that the mobile terminal applies fora static address while subscription and the mobile terminal hasexplicitly stated that it will use static address when activating thePDP context.

The GPRS network also provides a network side PDP context activationprocedure, which is a standard procedure defined in 3GPP TS 23.060 andis normally triggered by a downlink packet (that is, a packettransmitted from an external or internal switched network to a mobileclient) destined to the IP address of the mobile terminal. The caseunder which this flow may be used can be explained through an example:if an application service is running on a mobile terminal and other userwishes to access this service, then other user needs to first send a TCPSYN to the IP address of that mobile terminal; at the GGSN, if themobile terminal has no IP connection, this TCP SYN will trigger aninverse activation to activate the mobile terminal, that is, networkside initiated PDP context activation. In practice, network sideinitiated PDP context activation procedure is rarely used, this ismainly because network side initiated PDP context activation procedureneeds a mobile terminal to use a static IP address, however, in reality,mobile operator usually will not sell a static IP address to a mobileterminal and a user will also not buy a static IP address for mobileterminal.

FIG. 3 shows a diagram of current network side initiated PDP contextactivation procedure,

in step 301, receiving, by a GGSN 324, a downlink IP packet, IP addressof destination of the packet corresponds a static IP address of a mobileterminal 320. In this process, if the GGSN 324 is regarded as a last hoprouter, then all IP packets need to be sent to the mobile terminal 320will finally be routed to the GGSN 324 in a network segmentcorresponding to the static IP address;

in step 302, determining, by the GGSN 324, that destination IP addressof the downlink IP packet is the static IP address of the mobileterminal 320 based on local configuration information and the mobileterminal has no IP connection, querying for IMSI number of the mobileterminal based on the static IP address of the mobile terminal, andquerying a HLR 326 for aSGSN 322 where the mobile terminal is locatedbased on the IMSI number;

in step 303, finding, by the HLR 326, an address of the SGSN 322 wherethe mobile terminal 320 is currently located and returning it to theGGSN 324;

in step 304, sending, by the GGSN 324, a downlink message notificationto a given SGSN 322;

in step 305, returning, by the SGSN 322, a message that the downlinkmessage notification is received;

in step 306, sending, by the SGSN 322, a PDP context activation requestto the mobile terminal 320.

At the mobile terminal, it receives the request and starts a mobileterminal initiated PDP context activation procedure shown at step 307.

It can be seen from the above steps that, network side initiated PDPcontext activation procedure needs a mobile terminal to be bound with afixed IP address, which wastes limited IP address and service cost ishigh.

In current instant message service, after a mobile terminal has loggedinto an instant message server, the instant message server generallyonly needs to record IP address and user ID, an instant message clientof the mobile terminal keeps constant and fixed IP connection with theinstant message server, the instant message client continually sends aheartbeat message to the instant message server, and the instant messageserver keeps the user in a logged-in state, such that the instantmessage client can continually send and receive instant message. Here,the mobile terminal may still employ the manner of pushing platformmentioned above to reduce data flow.

Whereas in the present invention, since an instant message client of amobile terminal needs to disconnect an IP network connection when it isinactive and when there is no other network application program that iscurrently running, and the instant message server is required to, uponreceiving a message for the instant message client, notify a mobilenetwork through an interface provided by mobile network to wake up themobile terminal so as to make the mobile terminal automaticallyre-establish network connection, corresponding changes need to be madeon internal flow for the mobile terminal, the instant message server andthe mobile network.

First, change on instant message server side is considered. A mobileterminal version instant message application program similar to pushversion instant message application program may be developed. FIG. 4shows a diagram of a flow at instant message server side of a mobileterminal version instant message application. According to FIG. 4,

in step 401, storing a unique identification number of a mobile terminal420 in response to login of an instant message client running on themobile terminal. Within an instant message server 430, IP address of theinstant message client may be stored in association with user ID, and atthis moment, the instant message client of the mobile terminal mayutilize the instant message communication manner in prior art tocommunicate with other instant message clients;

in step 402, modifying status of the instant message client as “savingmode” in response to receiving a request for transferring status of theinstant message client into “saving mode”. In case that IM user is idlefor a long period of time, the user may choose to log off from theinstant message server with a special reason; and the mobile terminalmay disconnect IP connection if there is no other network applicationprogram that is currently running. Here, “saving mode” represents thatan instant message client running on a mobile terminal has no IPconnection. “Saving mode” is a special mode defined by the invention, inwhich the instant message server knows that the mobile terminal has noIP connection, but its IP connection can be activated at any time toaccess the instant message server so as to receive an instant message;after the instant message server receives “saving mode” status, itshould not regard the client as offline due to the client does not senda heartbeat message.

in step 403, sending a request for activating the mobile terminal 420 toa mobile application gateway 428 in response to receiving an instantmessage sent to the instant message client whose status is “savingmode”, the request includes the unique identification number of themobile terminal. Here, revised network side initiated PDP contextactivation flow is utilized to request the mobile network to activatethe mobile terminal, so as to make the mobile terminal re-establish IPconnection. The revised network side initiated PDP context activationflow will be explained in detail below.

in step 404, sending the received instant message to the instant messageclient in response to the mobile terminal 420 re-logging into theinstant message server 430 after being activated.

Then, change on mobile network side may be considered. At mobile networkside, existing network side initiated PDP context activation procedurecannot be used, because that activation procedure needs a mobileterminal to use static IP. In an existing network side initiated PDPcontext activation procedure, since static IP address is used, the GGSNmay store static IP address information subscribed by a mobile terminalin local configuration information, such that IMSI information of themobile terminal can be found through the static IP address whenreceiving a data message intended to the mobile terminal. It iscontemplated by the invention to use a revised network side initiatedPDP context activation procedure, in which at network side, a mobileapplication gateway is used to directly communicate with SGSN ratherthan with GGSN. The reason is that, when a mobile terminal has notactivated a PDP context, the GGSN does not have an inevitablerelationship with the mobile terminal. During mobile terminal activationprocedure, the SGSN may select different GGSN for activation based onfactors such as whether current location of the mobile terminal is athome network or visited network, load condition of a GGSN, etc. Theapplication gateway cannot determine with which GGSN it shouldcommunicate. However, current SGSN serving the mobile terminal canalways be found through the HLR.

FIG. 5 shows a flow diagram of a revised network side initiated PDPcontext activation procedure according to the present invention, thatis, a method of activating a mobile terminal from mobile network side,the revised network side initiated PDP context activation proceduremainly includes flows within a dashed block of the diagram. According toFIG. 5,

in step 501, receiving, by a mobile application gateway 528, a requestfor activating a mobile terminal 520, the mobile terminal has no IPconnection, the request includes an unique identification number of themobile terminal;

in step 502, querying, by the mobile application gateway, a HomeLocation Register (HLR) 526 for address of a Servicing GPRS SupportingNode (SGSN) 522 where the mobile terminal is located by utilizing theunique identification number of the mobile terminal;

in step 503, returning, by the HLR 526, the queried address of SGSN 522to the mobile application gateway 528. In this query procedure, the HLR526 needs to utilize the unique identification number of the mobileterminal.

in step 504, sending, by the mobile application gateway 528, the requestfor activating the mobile terminal 520 to the SGSN 522. This step may beimplemented in various ways. For example, a signaling message may besent, or a Web Service may be provided on the SGSN 522 which is calledby the mobile application gateway 528; even an API may also be providedon the SGSN which is called by the mobile application gateway, and soon.

in step 505, issuing, by the SGSN 522, a request to the mobile terminal520, requiring the mobile terminal to issue a request for activating PDPcontext to the SGSN.

in step 506, activating the PDP context for the mobile terminal 520 inresponse to receiving, by the SGSN 522, the request for activating thePDP context issued by the mobile terminal.

FIG. 5 also shows, at step 507, the interaction between a mobileterminal 520 and an instant message server 530 during a revised networkside initiated PDP context activation procedure of the presentinvention. For the mobile terminal 520, FIG. 6 shows a diagram of aworkflow corresponding to the mobile terminal. According to FIG. 6, theflow comprises:

in step 601, providing an user ID number of an instant message clientand an unique identification number of a mobile terminal 620 uponlogging into an instant message server 630;

in step 602, notifying the instant message server 620 of entering into“saving mode” and closing the instant message client in response to theinstant message client being inactive for a period of time and it isconfirmed that there is no other network application program that iscurrently running;

in step 603, disconnecting IP connection in response to there is noother network application program that is currently running;

in step 604, receiving a request, requiring the mobile terminal 620 toinitiate a mobile terminal initiated PDP context activation procedure;

in step 605, initiating the mobile terminal 620 initiated PDP contextactivation procedure toward the SGSN 622/GGSN of the mobile network toacquire an IP address;

in step 606, logging into the instant message server 630, therebyacquiring the instant message sent to it.

Any detailed step of the mobile terminal in FIG. 6 has already beenrealized in prior art, the main purpose of providing such steps is to,in conjunction with FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, make a reader has a comprehensiveimpression on the flow of the invention.

Under a same inventive conception, the present invention also disclosesa mobile application gateway system, FIG. 7 shows a structural blockdiagram of the mobile application gateway system, according to FIG. 7,the system comprises:

a request receiving module 701 configured to receive a request foractivating a mobile terminal, the request includes an uniqueidentification number of the mobile terminal;

a query sending module 702 configured to query a Home Location Register(HLR) for address of a SGSN where the mobile terminal is located byutilizing the unique identification number of the mobile terminal;

a query receiving module 703 configured to receive address of the SGSNqueried by the HLR; and

an activation request sending module 704 configured to send the requestfor activating the mobile terminal to the SGSN.

In an embodiment, the query sending module is realized through one ofthe following manners: sending a signaling message to the HLR; calling aWeb Service provided on the HLR; or calling an API provided on the HLR.Furthermore, in an embodiment, the request for activating the mobileterminal received by the request receiving module is issued by aninstant message server.

Under a similar inventive concept, the present invention also disclosesan instant message server, FIG. 8 shows a structural block diagram ofthe instant message server, according to FIG. 8, the instant messageserver comprising:

a logging module 801 configured to store an unique identification numberof a mobile terminal in response to receiving login of an instantmessage client running on the mobile terminal;

a status recording module 802 configured to modify status of the instantmessage client as “saving mode” in response to receiving a request fortransferring status of the instant message client into “saving mode”;

an activation request sending module 803 configured to send a requestfor activating the mobile terminal to a mobile application gateway inresponse to receiving an instant message sent to the instant messageclient whose status is “saving mode”, the request includes the uniqueidentification number of the mobile terminal.

In an embodiment, the instant message server further comprises: amessage sending module 804 configured to send the received instantmessage to the instant message client in response to the mobile terminalre-logging into the instant message server after being activated.

Wherein, status of the instant message client being “saving mode”represents that the instant message client running on the mobileterminal has no IP connection, but its IP connection can be activated atany time to access the instant message server, so as to receive aninstant message.

The “mobile terminal” in the invention refers to a device that canperform voice and data service through a wireless network, includinghandset, mobile computer with a SIM card, PAD with a SIM card, and soon.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of operating an instant message server,comprising: storing a unique identification number of a first mobileterminal in response to login of an instant message client running onthe first mobile terminal; modifying status of the instant messageclient maintained in the instant message server to a saving mode,wherein the first mobile terminal has no IP connection while in thesaving mode and no static IP address is associated with the first mobileterminal; receiving an instant message destined for said first mobileterminal while the status of the instant message client running on thefirst mobile terminal is the saving mode; responsive to receiving theinstant message destined for said first mobile terminal while the statusof the instant message client running on the first mobile terminal isthe saving mode, sending a request for activating the first mobileterminal to a mobile application gateway for a packet domain corenetwork which services a plurality of mobile terminals including saidfirst mobile terminal, the request being sent via a packet switchednetwork external to said packet domain core network, the requestincluding the unique identification number of the mobile terminal,wherein, responsive to receiving the request for activating the firstmobile terminal, the application gateway causes the first mobileterminal to request activation of a Packet Data Protocol (PDP) contextby a Servicing GRPS Supporting Node (SGSN) and the SGSN to activate thePDP context and the first mobile terminal to re-establish an IPconnection; receiving a login from the instant message client in thefirst mobile terminal using re-established IP connection; and sendingthe instant message to the first mobile terminal using there-established IP connection.
 2. The method according to claim 1,wherein the unique identification number of the mobile terminal is oneof Mobile Subscriber ISDN number (MSISDN number) and InternationalMobile Subscriber Identification number (IMSI number) of that mobileterminal.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein status of theinstant message client being “saving mode” represents that the instantmessage client running on the mobile terminal has no IP connection, butits IP connection can be activated at any time to access the instantmessage server, so as to receive an instant message.
 4. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein a dynamic IP address is assigned to thefirst mobile terminal when activating the PDP context, the dynamic IPaddress being used for the re-established IP connection.
 5. A computerprogram product for operating an instant message server, the computerprogram product comprising processor-executable instructions recorded onnon-transitory computer-readable media, wherein the instructions, whenexecuted by at least one computer system, cause the at least onecomputer system to perform: storing a unique identification number of afirst mobile terminal in response to login of an instant message clientrunning on the first mobile terminal; modifying status of the instantmessage client maintained in the instant message server to a savingmode, wherein the first mobile terminal has no IP connection while inthe saving mode and no static IP address is associated with the firstmobile terminal; receiving an instant message destined for said firstmobile terminal while the status of the instant message client runningon the first mobile terminal is the saving mode; responsive to receivingthe instant message destined for said first mobile terminal while thestatus of the instant message client running on the first mobileterminal is the saving mode, sending a request for activating the firstmobile terminal to a mobile application gateway for a packet domain corenetwork which services a plurality of mobile terminals including saidfirst mobile terminal, the request being sent via a packet switchednetwork external to said packet domain core network, the requestincluding the unique identification number of the mobile terminal,wherein, responsive to receiving the request for activating the firstmobile terminal, the application gateway causes the first mobileterminal to request activation of a Packet Data Protocol (PDP) contextby a Servicing GRPS Supporting Node (SGSN) and the SGSN to activate thePDP context and the first mobile terminal to re-establish an IPconnection; receiving a login from the instant message client in thefirst mobile terminal using re-established IP connection; and sendingthe instant message to the first mobile terminal using there-established IP connection.
 6. The computer program product accordingto claim 5, wherein the unique identification number of the mobileterminal is one of Mobile Subscriber ISDN number (MSISDN number) andInternational Mobile Subscriber Identification number (IMSI number) ofthat mobile terminal.
 7. The computer program product according to claim5, wherein status of the instant message client being saving moderepresents that the instant message client running on the mobileterminal has no IP connection, but its IP connection can be activated atany time to access the instant message server, so as to receive aninstant message.
 8. The computer program product according to claim 5,wherein a dynamic IP address is assigned to the first mobile terminalwhen activating the PDP context, the dynamic IP address being used forthe re-established IP connection.
 9. An instant message server,comprising: a memory; at least one processor executing instructionsstorable in said memory; an instant messaging manager embodied asinstructions storable in said memory and executable on said processor,said instant messaging manager performing: storing a uniqueidentification number of a first mobile terminal in response to login ofan instant message client running on the first mobile terminal;modifying status of the instant message client maintained in the instantmessage server to a saving mode, wherein the first mobile terminal hasno IP connection while in the saving mode and no static IP address isassociated with the first mobile terminal; receiving an instant messagedestined for said first mobile terminal while the status of the instantmessage client running on the first mobile terminal is the saving mode;responsive to receiving the instant message destined for said firstmobile terminal while the status of the instant message client runningon the first mobile terminal is the saving mode, sending a request foractivating the first mobile terminal to a mobile application gateway fora packet domain core network which services a plurality of mobileterminals including said first mobile terminal, the request being sentvia a packet switched network external to said packet domain corenetwork, the request including the unique identification number of themobile terminal, wherein, responsive to receiving the request foractivating the first mobile terminal, the application gateway causes thefirst mobile terminal to request activation of a Packet Data Protocol(PDP) context by a Servicing GRPS Supporting Node (SGSN) and the SGSN toactivate the PDP context and the first mobile terminal to re-establishan IP connection; receiving a login from the instant message client inthe first mobile terminal using re-established IP connection; andsending the instant message to the first mobile terminal using there-established IP connection.
 10. The instant messaging server accordingto claim 9, wherein the unique identification number of the mobileterminal is one of Mobile Subscriber ISDN number (MSISDN number) andInternational Mobile Subscriber Identification number (IMSI number) ofthat mobile terminal.
 11. The instant messaging server according toclaim 9, wherein status of the instant message client being saving moderepresents that the instant message client running on the mobileterminal has no IP connection, but its IP connection can be activated atany time to access the instant message server, so as to receive aninstant message.
 12. The instant messaging server according to claim 9,wherein a dynamic IP address is assigned to the first mobile terminalwhen activating the PDP context, the dynamic IP address being used forthe re-established IP connection.